Burial vault



Oct. 31, 1933. w, LORESCH 1,932,792

BURIAL VAULT Filed Feb. l0, 1933 12 71,11 2 )kg I INVENTOR Patented Oct. 31, 17933 5j] STATES BURIAL VAULT Harry W. Loresch, GHara Township', Allegheny County, Pa.

Application February 10, 19,33. Serial No. 656,124

12 Claims.

Formerly it Was the practice to place in a grave a wooden rough box in which the casket was thereafter placed and the lid of the rough box wasthen put in position and the earth filled in.

However such rough boxes quickly decayed, permitting the graves to fall in, and furthermore they were not water-tight-a most important consideration.

In modern practice burial vaults comprising a vault body and a lid for the vault body are usually formed of concrete and to strengthen the body and the lid and to enable them to be made of less thickness, the concrete is usually reinforced by means of embedded metal, and when the lid is placed in position it is sealed with interposed plastic material, such as asphalt.` However there is still the fault that Water will in time get into the interior of the vault, and it is cornmon'practice to provide the body ci th vault and also the lid with an interior lining of metal.

It is to such intericrly lined vaults that my present invention more particularly relates and my invention is characterized by anr improved form of seal between the lid and the body of the vault. Y

In the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the prin-` ciples of my invention, Fig. l represents a broken longitudinal section oi the body and lid of a burial vault, the lid being sealed in position.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. l and showing the lid elevated slightly.

f Fig; 3 is an inverted plan View of the metallic pan which forms the interlining of the lid.

Referring to the drawing, the body of the container is formed of an outer shell 1 of concrete preferably reinforced with embedded metal, such for instance as is described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,796,314, issued to me on January 27, 1931. The interior of the body is formed by a metal container 2 having solid Walls andbottom and which is secured in place within the concrete body 1 by means of an interposed layer 3 of asphalt or other plastic adhesive material which is alsov preferably waterproof. At the inside the top of the concrete shell 1 is bevelled to form with the upward extending walls of the container 2 a continuous trough 4, and the plastic material is extended up to ll said trough as shown at 5 in Fig. 2, thel top of said material being flush with the top ofthe metal container 2 and the topof the concrete body 1. The lid of the vault is formed of a main portion 6 ofr concrete having its perimetral edge undercut as at 7 rso that when the lidyis' in place the'` central or thicker portion of the lid will extend down into the interior of the valve as shown at 8. Secured to the under face ofthe lid is a metal pan 9 which is fixed to the concrete portion 6 of the lid by an `interposed layer 10 of plastic adhesive, such as asphalt. The perimetral edge of the pan 9 is provided with a continuous inverted U-shaped flange 11 for which clearance is provided by the undercut portion 7 of the lid. n w

12 represents a metal band which is attached tothe perimetral edge of the lid and which perimetrally enclosesthe undercut portion 7. The Y band may be xed in place relative to the lid by anyY convenient means. Thus in said Letters Patent \lo."1,790,314v the band 'is shown secured to the metallic reinforcement of the lid. The outer wally of the U-shapedflange 11 preferably does not extend down to the level of the main i.

portionl of the pan 9 but the lower end of said outer wall is preferably in the same horizontal plane as is the lower edge of the band 12; The plastic material lls the U-shaped flange 11 and also the undercut portion 7 as shown at 13 in Fig. 2. Y

When the lid is put in place, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the U-shaped iiange 11 iits down over the top edge of the metallic container 2 and the perimetral band 12 nts down over the outer surface of the vault, and the fillings of plastic material 5 and 13 are forced together as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus forming a Water-tight and permanent seal between the lid and the body of the tect the material from oxidation or other def terioration. The advantage of using enamelled metal is that the same forms a dielectric which prevents electrolysis.

Another advantage in using enamelled metal is that any desired color scheme for the interiorv of the vault may be provided. If desired the ,metal may be merely painted.

I claimzl 1. In a burial vault comprising' 'a vault body and a lid therefor both formed'of asphalt or similar material, `the combination of'a container formed of a suitable stiff waterproof material, such as metal, secured' in the' vault body, and

whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the Walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U- shaped ilange which receives the upper portions of the container walls when the lid is in position on the vault body, the lid being sealed in place by plastic material which lls the trough andthe U-shaped flange.

2. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of asphalt or similar material, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiff waterproof material, such as metal, secured in .the vault body by interposed plastic material such as asphalt, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured by interposed plastic material to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped flange which receives the upper portions of the container walls when the lid is in position on the vault body, the lid being sealed in place by plastic material which fills the trough andthe U-shaped flange.

3. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so as to fit down into the vault body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiff waterproof material such as metal secured in the vault body, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similarmaterial to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, the

pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped ilange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in place, and a sealing of plastic material lling the trough and the undercut portion of the lid.

4. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so as to fit down into the vault body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiff Waterproof material, such as metal secured in the vault body by interposed plastic material'such as asphalt, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the` upper part of the vault body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured by interposed plastic material to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped ange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the .upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in place, and a sealing of plastic material filling the trough and the undercut portion of the lid.

5. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar' material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so as to fit down into the vault body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiff waterproof material, such as metal secured in the vault body, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the Walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped iiange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in place, the undercut portion or the lid and the trough being filled with plastic material to seal the vault when the lid is placed in position.

6. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed or" concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so as to fit down into the vault body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiff waterproof material, such as metal secured in the vault body by interposed plastic material such as asphalt, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top or Ythe vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the walls oi the container, and a pan or" similar material to that of the container secured by interposed plastic material to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped flange which is disposed in the undercut portion or" the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in place, the undercut portion of the lid and the trough being filled with plastic material to seal the vault when the lid is placed in position.

3. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally to t down into the vault body and the undercut portion being surrounded and laterally inclosed by a depending lip, the combination of a container formed of a suitable waterproofmaterial, such as metal secured in tlie vault body, whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part oi the vault body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped flange which is disposed in the undercut portion o the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in position on the vault body, the trough and the undercut portion of the lid being lled with plastic material which sealsthe lid to the vault body when placed in position.

8. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally to lit down into the vault body and the undercut portion being surrounded and laterally inclosed by a depending lip, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stilic waterproof material, such as metal secured in the vault body by interposed plastic material such as asphalt, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a sub- 'stantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured by interposed plastic material to the under side of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped iiange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in position on the vault body, the trough and the undercut portion of the lid being lled with plasticmaterial which seals the lid to the vault body when placed in position.

9. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being under cut perimetrally to lt down into the vault body and the undercut portion being surrounded and laterally inclosed by a depending lip, the combination of ,a container formed of a suitable stiiT Waterproof material, such as metal, secured in the vault body, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault :body and the walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the underside of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U-shaped ange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container walls when the lid is in position on the vault body, the lid being sealed to the vault body by plastic material which iills the under portion of the lid, the trough and the U-shaped flange.

10. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid therefor both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being under cut perimetrally to iit down into the vault body and the undercut portion being surrounded and laterally inclosed by a depending lip, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stii waterprof material, such as metal, secured in the vault body by interposed plastic material such as asphalt, and whose substantially vertical side and end walls extend to substantially the top of the vault body, a substantially continuous trough being formed between the upper part of the vault body and the Walls of the container, and a pan of similar material to that of the containersecured by interposed plastic material to the underside of the lid, the pan being provided with a substantially continuous perimetral inverted U- shaped flange which is disposed in the undercut portion of the lid and which receives the upper portion of the container Walls when the lid is in lposition on the vault body, the lid being sealed to the vault body by plastic material which iills the under portion of the lid, the trough and the U-shaped ange.

11. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so that its center portion will depend within the body with lateral clearance between said center portion and the body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stii Waterproof material such as metal mounted Within the body, the vertical side and end walls of said container extending up to the top of the body and the ,side and end `Walls of the body being bevelled at the inside to form with the Walls of the container a continuous trough, a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, said pan being formed to conform to the depending center portion of the lid and to extend up into the undercut perimetral portion of the lid, the perimetral edges of the pan being formed into a continuous inverted U-shaped flange which hooks downwardly over the exposed top .of the container when the lid is in its closing position, and plastic sealing material iilling the undercut portion of the lid and also lling said trough whereby the lid is sealed to the body.

12. In a burial vault comprising a vault body and a lid both formed of concrete or similar material, the lid being undercut perimetrally so that its center portion will depend within the body with lateral clearance between said center portion and the body and the outer perimetral edge of the lid being provided with a depending flange which receives the upper end of the body, the combination of a container formed of a suitable stiif waterproof material such as metal mounted within the body, the vertical side and end walls of said container extending up to the top of the body and the side and end walls of the body being bevelled at the inside to form with the walls of the container a continuous trough, a pan of similar material to that of the container secured to the under side of the lid, said pan being formed to conform to the depending center portion of the lid and to extend up into the undercut perimetral portion of the lid, the perimetral ledges of the pan being formed into a continuous inverted U-shaped flange which hooks downwardly over the exposed top of the container when the lid is in its closing position, and plastic sealing material iilling the undercut portion of the lid and also lling said trough whereby the lid is sealed to the body.

HARRY W. LORESCH. 

